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10 questions on St. Patrick's Day

Aren't we all a bit Irish? We are, at least, on March 17th, because that's when St. Patrick's Day is marked worldwide. Here are the answers to the most important questions about the Irish party millions celebrate.

Why are people celebrating?

March 17th commemorates the Irish bishop St. Patrick. He was the first Christian missionary in Ireland and is considered the country's patron saint. St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Montserrat, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally celebrations were muted, but by now they have developed into a global party.

Who was St. Patrick?

Born Maewyn Succat, Ireland's patron saint is presumed to have lived in the fifth century and was a Briton. It's said he was taken to Ireland as a slave. There he found his way to Christianity. He later managed to reach France on a ship and studied theology there. Back in England he was ordained a priest, taking the name Patrick. Following a vision, he began to convert Celtic pagans in Ireland.

What's the dress code?

People celebrating St. Patrick's Day traditionally wear green. Some sport imaginative costumes and paint their faces. Originally the color associated with St. Patrick was blue. On many old paintings he wears blue clothing. During the Irish rebellion of 1798, however, green became the color that symbolized national identity - and remains so to this day.

Why a shamrock?

According to legend St. Patrick is said to have used shamrocks to illustrate the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost to Irish polytheists. Even though the man in the picture has five-leaf clovers over his eyes and many people provide themselves with four-leaf clovers on St. Patrick's day - the Irish national symbol has three.

How do the Irish celebrate?

St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday in Ireland. There are parades and processions, church services and folk dancing, as here in Dublin (picture). But Ireland isn't alone, because emigrants from Ireland and their descendants take the celebrations very seriously.

Where else do celebrations take place?

St. Patrick's Day is especially popular in the US. That's not surprising, because the country is home to some 34 million people with Irish roots. In the country their ancestors came from, there are only 4.6 million! The first parade took place in 1843 in Chicago, and the city pulls out all the stops on St. Patrick's Day. Even the Chicago River is dyed green.

What happens in other countries?

With every year, St. Patrick's Day is becoming more popular far from its home, and many famous landmarks are illuminated in green on March 17th, among them Sydney Opera House, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Allianz Arena in Munich.

What are Germans doing?

Munich is home to one of the biggest St. Patrick's day parades on the European continent - although it takes place over the weekend preceding the holiday, this year on March 12th. Participants march from the square known as Muenchner Freiheit, over Leopoldstrasse and Ludwigstrasse, to Odeonsplatz. There, people celebrate with Celtic and Irish rock and traditional folk music.

What do people drink?

On St. Patrick's Day people dye everything possible green: hair, clothing and even beer. Generally, beer consumption during the days around St. Patrick's Day increases enormously - especially that of Irish stout: from 5.5 million pints on an ordinary day to 13 million. That amounts to about 6 million liters of beer per day of partying.

Is it becoming too commercialized?

People used to simply wave Irish flags. Now there are entire branches of industry that supply people celebrating St. Paddy's day with all sorts of knick-knacks. There are some calls for moderation and reflection, but they scarcely have any success. Too many people just love the green free-for-all and accept the mushrooming commercialization.

Why are people celebrating?

March 17th commemorates the Irish bishop St. Patrick. He was the first Christian missionary in Ireland and is considered the country's patron saint. St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Montserrat, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally celebrations were muted, but by now they have developed into a global party.

Who was St. Patrick?

Born Maewyn Succat, Ireland's patron saint is presumed to have lived in the fifth century and was a Briton. It's said he was taken to Ireland as a slave. There he found his way to Christianity. He later managed to reach France on a ship and studied theology there. Back in England he was ordained a priest, taking the name Patrick. Following a vision, he began to convert Celtic pagans in Ireland.

What's the dress code?

People celebrating St. Patrick's Day traditionally wear green. Some sport imaginative costumes and paint their faces. Originally the color associated with St. Patrick was blue. On many old paintings he wears blue clothing. During the Irish rebellion of 1798, however, green became the color that symbolized national identity - and remains so to this day.

Why a shamrock?

According to legend St. Patrick is said to have used shamrocks to illustrate the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost to Irish polytheists. Even though the man in the picture has five-leaf clovers over his eyes and many people provide themselves with four-leaf clovers on St. Patrick's day - the Irish national symbol has three.

How do the Irish celebrate?

St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday in Ireland. There are parades and processions, church services and folk dancing, as here in Dublin (picture). But Ireland isn't alone, because emigrants from Ireland and their descendants take the celebrations very seriously.

Where else do celebrations take place?

St. Patrick's Day is especially popular in the US. That's not surprising, because the country is home to some 34 million people with Irish roots. In the country their ancestors came from, there are only 4.6 million! The first parade took place in 1843 in Chicago, and the city pulls out all the stops on St. Patrick's Day. Even the Chicago River is dyed green.

What happens in other countries?

With every year, St. Patrick's Day is becoming more popular far from its home, and many famous landmarks are illuminated in green on March 17th, among them Sydney Opera House, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Allianz Arena in Munich.

What are Germans doing?

Munich is home to one of the biggest St. Patrick's day parades on the European continent - although it takes place over the weekend preceding the holiday, this year on March 12th. Participants march from the square known as Muenchner Freiheit, over Leopoldstrasse and Ludwigstrasse, to Odeonsplatz. There, people celebrate with Celtic and Irish rock and traditional folk music.

What do people drink?

On St. Patrick's Day people dye everything possible green: hair, clothing and even beer. Generally, beer consumption during the days around St. Patrick's Day increases enormously - especially that of Irish stout: from 5.5 million pints on an ordinary day to 13 million. That amounts to about 6 million liters of beer per day of partying.

Is it becoming too commercialized?

People used to simply wave Irish flags. Now there are entire branches of industry that supply people celebrating St. Paddy's day with all sorts of knick-knacks. There are some calls for moderation and reflection, but they scarcely have any success. Too many people just love the green free-for-all and accept the mushrooming commercialization.